Thermo-electric generator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H- B. COX. THERMO-ELEGTRIG GENERATOR- .No. 535,488. Patented Mar. 12,1895.

WITNESSES:

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HARRY BARRINGER COX, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TH ERMO-ELECTR'IC GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,488, dated March12, l 895 Application filed March 8, 1893. Renewed August 14, 1894.Serial No. 520,328. (No model.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY BARRINGER 00X, of Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Thermo- Electric Generators; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and numerals of referencemarked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in thermo electricgenerators.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved mode ofconstructing the rings or members of a thermo electric pile.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mode ofinternally connecting the various rings or sections forming a thermoelectric pile, so that the sections will be included in a circuit whichcan be connected with the take off wires at the exterior of thegenerator and so that all connections between the various sections orrings compolsing the pile will be internal and within the p1 e.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mode ofconnecting the take off wires with a thermoelectric pile and ininsulating said wires.

The invention consists'in certain novel features of construction and incombinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa thermo electric generator partially broken away. Fig. 2 is adiagrammatical view of a thermo electric pile showing a way ofconnecting the sections of the pile. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of theends of several of the sections showing a way of connecting them. Fig.4. is a dia grammatical view showing a mode of connecting the sectionsof a. pile in multiple.

In the drawings the reference letter a, indicates a thermo electric pilemade up of a series of rings or sections 7). Each section is made up ofa series of thermo couples.

In the construction shown the pile is made up of a series of rings ofconnected thermo couples. The rings are laid one on the other and areseparated by suitable insulating material. The pile or cylinder thusformed is then preferably coated with some fire proof material such asfire clay or the like and is then baked so as to harden, or vitrify thematerial and form a hard coating for the pile covering and protectingthe thermo couples. This coating is then preferably provided with anexterior metallic jacket d. A water space e, is preferably formed aroundthe pile by a casingf, secured to the heads g 7i, indicates a bracketfor supporting the generator.

6, indicates a supply pipe for a gas burner for heating the interior ofthe pile.

In connecting the sections of the pile the opposite or positive andnegative ends of each section are preferably (although not necessarily)brought near together but are 1nsulated from each other. Oorrespondin gends of all the sections are provided with the tail pieces, consistingof conducting strips, each electrically connected with the outer end orface of the large thertno electric member at the end of the section andextendinginwardly. The opposite ends of the sections are provided withthe head pieces 10, each electrically connected with the inner face ofend member of its section and extending outwardly th erefrom between theends of the section. When the sections of the pile are to be connectedin series as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 each head piece 70, is formed ofsuch length that it can be turned upwardly so that it can be suitablyelectrically connected by brazing or otherwise with the tail piece ofthe section immediately above. Each head piece preferably has its upperend looped so that iternbracesand forms a more perfect contact with thetail piece. The sections are thus electrically connected with all theconnections located within the pile and between the sections thereof.

When the sections are connected in series as just described the circuitextends spirally as it were, through the pile from the end of onesection to the opposite end of the section immediately above. Where thesections are thus coupled in series the last tail piece at" one end ofthe pile will form one pole of the generator to which one take offshould be connected, and the last head piece at the opposite end of thepile forms the other pole to wh ch the other take 0E is connected.

the sections can be coupled together in multiple or in any manner orcombination des red In Fig. 4, the sections are shown coupled inmultiple wherein all the head pieces are electrically connected in asuitable manner as by a vertical electrical connection m, tofor n onepole of the generator, and all the tail pieces of the sections areelectrically connected by a vertical electrical connection it, to formthe other poll of the generator. Suitable methods of insulating andconveymg the current from the generator are provlded.

When the pile is coated with the fireproof material the take off wires3, 4, project outwardly through the said coating and are alsoconveyedoutwardly through openings in the metallic acket around the pile. Thetake off connections from thence pass through the water space andthrough a head g, to the bind-v ing posts 4,5. These take offconnections are insulated by any suitable means as close rubber tubesfitted thereon. The holes in the head and metal jacket are formedconsiderablylarger in diameter than the take off Wires, and pipesections 19 are inserted and suitably secured in said holes by brazingor otherwise, and the take off connections pass through said pipes andthrough tubes q, of rubber or like material passing through the waterspace and fitted on the inner ends of said pipes so as to form tightjoints. These devices insulate the take off wires from the water and themetallic parts of the generator. However I do not wish to limit myselfto the use of rubber pipe, or to any specific construction orarrangement of pipes as any means can be employed to connect andinsulate the take off connections.

It is also evident that various changes might be made in the forms,constructions and arrangements of the parts described without depart ngfrom the spirit and scope of my invention, and although I havespecifically described my preferred constructions herein it has beendone for the sake of clearness, and I do not wish to limit myself to theconstructions set forth.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A thermo electric pile built up of sections of thermo couples andprovided with an exterior coating of plastic refractory material, thesections being electrically connected in circuit by internal electricalconnections Within said coating, substantially as described.

2. A thermo electric pile built up of a series of rings, the rings beingelectrically connected within themselves to form a circuit through thepile and provided with an exterior refractory coating vitrified to forma hard covering, substantially as described.

' 3. A thermo electric pile formed of a series of sections of thermocouples, the sections being connected in circuit by electricalconnections located between the end thermo members of the sections sothat the connections are internal and within the metallic wall of thepile said metallic pile being coated with plastic materialentirelyinclosing and covering the metallic elements of the pile,substantially as set forth.

4:. The thermo electric generator having the exterior metal jacket andthe water space around said jacket provided with the take 0E wirespassing out from the poles of the generator and through said jacket andwater space and insulated from the same, substantially as described.

5. The thermo generator having the hardlated take otlf wires extendingfrom the poles of the pile and through said tubes, substantially asdescribed.

7. A thermo electric pile having its take off connections connected withhead and tail pieces, respectively, from the hot and cold ends of theopposite poles of the pile, substantially as described.

8. A thermo electric pile built up of a series of separate rings, eachring composed of thermo couples of large and small members,

the large end members of each ring located one above the other, one endmember having a conducting tail piece and the other end member of eachring having the elongated head piece electrically connected with thetail piece of the next adjoining ring, substantially as described.

In testir my own I two witnes 4 that I claim the foregoing as HARRYBARRINGER COX.

Witnesses;

E. HENRY HYDE, Jr., J. L. FENN.

i my signature in presence of

